Reds focus on winning Lloris deserves a new contract, says Vertonghen
LIVERPOOL have returned to training after Monday night’s frustrating draw against Manchester United, with the players being put through their paces ahead of the clash with West Brom tomorrow.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were denied victory over their fierce rivals at Anfield as Jose Mourinho’s men denied them the space to showcase the attacking verve that has been a feature of their performances so far this season.
Liverpool welcome Tony Pulis’ side on Merseyside for tomorrow’s late kick-off in the Premier League, and with no European commitments this week, Klopp can concentrate on getting his squad fully focused on returning to winning ways against the Baggies.
The German was pictured having a quiet word with Divock Origi, who may be drafted in from the start after Daniel Sturridge struggled as Liverpool’s attacking focal point in the stalemate.
Sturridge didn’t show the signs of a man under pressure, however, with the England forward sharing a joke with Dejan Lovren in the autumn sunshine at Melwood. Manchester United’s
(left) vies with Liverpool's during their match at Anfield on Monday.
Meanwhile, former Reds defender Daniel Agger is confident that Klopp’s men can emerge as serious title contenders this season following their promising first eight games.
The one-time Danish centre-back, who retired from football in the summer after two seasons back at boyhood club Brondby, has been encouraged by the improvement under the current management and feels the Premier League is there for the taking this term.
“It’s going well so far,” he told Liverpool’s official website. “To be honest, I have some expectations this year, especially after last year.’ kicked off at 8.30pm.
It is thought United will be back at their regular Westminster base for the trip to Chelsea on Sunday, a 7.5km journey which should take just 25 minutes, allowing for normal London traffic.
Meanwhile,it can be revealed that Mourinho and Wayne Rooney delivered a rollicking to the club’s head of travel following United’s illfated pre-season tour of China.
Both manager and captain made their feelings on the trip clear to the club employee in a severe dressing-down that stunned onlookers.
The cancellation of the Beijing clash against Manchester City was out of the employee’s hands, but the view was that facilities and transport on the trip left a lot to be desired.
United declined to comment. Daily Mail
BUSINESS: Klopp prepares them for West Brom after draw with Devils
“Jurgen is looking good for the club, I think he’s doing well. He has some great ideas and the way he talks with the media, everything, I like.”
Liverpool have lacked the same defensive solidity that Agger brought to the side for large parts of his eight-year spell at the club, but injuries would curtail his career appearances.
Klopp’s side have been every bit as breathless going forward as the Liverpool team that very nearly won the Premier League during the 201314 season, but have been susceptible to conceding soft goals at the back. LONDON: Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has urged his employers to tie goalkeeper Hugo Lloris down to a new contract after the Frenchman’s superb performance against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Lloris pulled off a string of saves in Spurs’ Champions League outing at the BayArena to ensure his side walked away with a valuable point, including a stunning reflex effort to block Javier Hernandez’s shot millimetres before it crossed the line.
Vertonghen is one of a string of Tottenham players who have recently committed their futures to the north London club, and the former Ajax defender has called on his employers to ensure Lloris does the same.
He also insisted he wouldn’t swap the former Lyon shotstopper for ‘any keeper in world football’.
He said: “I hope Hugo is the next one to agree a new deal. It’s important to keep this team together, especially quality players like him.
“He is our captain and a very important member of the squad. I don’t know what is going on right now (with contract negotiations) but I hope he will be at Tottenham for many years.
“I wouldn’t swap him for any keeper in world football. The save he made from Hernandez was unbelievable. You could say that’s what he’s there for, but this stop was just different class.”
Lloris’ current contract expires in 2019, and while it was reported that he’d rejected an extension, the 29year-old insisted in June that he’d be staying put. Daily Mail